In life there are no coincidences.
At a business meeting earlier this month, I met Christopher C. Stout.
In room of more than 80 people, Stout and I sat next to each other.
Stout was to receive an award for Series Writing and Reporting for his work at the Ridgewood News‚ "The Hero Next Door." This series profiled the families of those serving overseas.
Sitting there, chatting, I learned that, earlier, Stout had written a series of articles on the men and women from Ridgewood, N.J., who died while in service.
I expressed my surprise that of all the people he sat next to, he sat next to me.
The compilation of that series and research resulted in his book, AT DEATH HE WAS 25 YEARS OLD, published by King of Spain Press.
His motives for writing the series were similar to the process to mine in compiling the Nutley Sons and Belleville Sons honor rolls. Stout, too, had looked at a war memorial in town and something inside told him to learn the stories behind the names.
Until we struck up a conversation I had only known of one other person, from New Jersey, also, who had done something like this. Robert Caruso's effort resulted in Verona Heroes
As these stories go, Caruso was researching the war dead from Verona and while researching Thurston Woodward who was killed in World War II came across my web site for the sailor whose family later moved to Verona.
Stout and I had a similar conversation that Saturday morning. We spoke of some men who were killed in the war and memorialized in more than one town.
It turned out that Thomas E. Ashton Jr. grew up in Nutley and his family moved to Ridgewood.
The young man's story was in the Nutley Sons Honor Roll and in Stout's book.
Another coincidence turned up concerning the Dec. 24, 1944, torpedoing of the Leopoldville. Nutley's Malcolm Christopher was on the the ship. Also aboard was Ridgewood's Thomas A. Cobb.
Sometimes I find that my sense of loss over the strangers that turn up in my books and these similarly-themed books is overwhelming. I swear to God I don't ever again want to write about the war dead.
And yet. As Stout and I compared notes he mentioned some sources I hadn't tapped. Some sources that might uncover the stories of my guys whose stories have yet to be told.
And I wondered when I might cross check our references and get on with this work, this work that comes from a deep, deep part of the heart.
Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
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Order AT DEATH HE WAS 25 YEARS OLD, ISBN 1583968490 Available through King of Spain Press, P.O. Box 221, Hohokus, NJ 07423. $20 for the book plus $2.50 s&h.
Remembering the Men Who Paid For Our Freedom. Nutley, New Jersey.
6.22.2007
6.16.2007
CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES
Lt. Justin Bakal, SPC. Brian Crosta, Spec. Steven Gilchrist, Cpl. Michael Cerami, PFC. Daniel Jacoby, Spec. Jonathan Fagioli, Cpl. Joshua Molina, Sp/4 Vincent Kyzima, 2nd Lt. Tim Allen, Pvt. Robert Gumeny, Sgt. William DeCarlo, Pfc. Scott DeCarlo, E4 Glen Pogue II, Pvt. John McGuire.
Tech. Sgt. Ezzedin Bautista, III, Sgt. Maria Hamlin, Lance Cpl. Joseph Liaci, Lance Cpl. John Milkewicz, Stf. Sgt. Derrick Johnson, Lance Cpl. Ryan Lucas, Sgt. Steve Rogers Jr.,
AEAN Justin Misner, Ens. Brian Viola, Lt. Adam LaRue, Lt. Kate Raia, Lt. Cmdr. Steve Rogers.
Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
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5.31.2007
JUNE CASUALTIES
June 6, 1918 - George Connolly
June 6, 1944 - William Pearson
June 7, 1944 - Donald Wood
June 8, 1944 - Lee White
June 8, 1944 - Stanley Szczyrek
June 8, 1942 - Herbert Maxwell
June 9, 1944 - Ronald McCormack
June 11, 1918 - Julius Bruskin
June 12, 1958 - Frank Jannarone
June 23, 1944 - Theodore Cassera
June 24, 1944 - Howard Lemperle
June 6, 1944 - William Pearson
June 7, 1944 - Donald Wood
June 8, 1944 - Lee White
June 8, 1944 - Stanley Szczyrek
June 8, 1942 - Herbert Maxwell
June 9, 1944 - Ronald McCormack
June 11, 1918 - Julius Bruskin
June 12, 1958 - Frank Jannarone
June 23, 1944 - Theodore Cassera
June 24, 1944 - Howard Lemperle
5.28.2007
Memorial Day, Nutley, N.J.
Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
For God and Country
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Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
5.26.2007
West Point's tribute, etched in gold
By Greg Bruno
May 25, 2007
Times Herald-Record
West Point, N.Y — Even in good light, the numbers are hard to make out. A quick glance pulls the eyes toward a stoic bald eagle, an American flag, the class motto.
But take a closer look. Tilt the Class of 2007 ring ever so slightly, and the faintly etched digits begin to twinkle brightly: "911."
... Tim Allen, a senior from Nutley, N.J., chaired the committee that created the ring with the help of local artists. ...
Read the Story
May 25, 2007
Times Herald-Record
West Point, N.Y — Even in good light, the numbers are hard to make out. A quick glance pulls the eyes toward a stoic bald eagle, an American flag, the class motto.
But take a closer look. Tilt the Class of 2007 ring ever so slightly, and the faintly etched digits begin to twinkle brightly: "911."
... Tim Allen, a senior from Nutley, N.J., chaired the committee that created the ring with the help of local artists. ...
Read the Story
5.22.2007
Memorial Day Parade - Monday, May 28, 11 a.m.
Anyone who has seen the official township press release knows that the parade on Monday steps off at about 11.
What a lot of people in town don't know is that the Veterans Council - which includes the local chapters of national organizations including the American Legion, AMVETS, VFW and other groups - at about 9-ish begin a tour of the Nutley war memorials beginning at the American Legion on Franklin Avenue.
The group tours the more than one-dozen memorials across town with an entourage that ends at the American Revolution memorial in front of the high school, shortly before the parade line up begins.
In addition to marching in this year's parade, if you are so inclined, or standing along the sidelines cheering, this year, gather family and friends and be on hand at one of the memorials when the Vets gather to remember their fallen brethren.
Check out all the memorials in town.
Nutley Memorial Day - 2006
Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
What a lot of people in town don't know is that the Veterans Council - which includes the local chapters of national organizations including the American Legion, AMVETS, VFW and other groups - at about 9-ish begin a tour of the Nutley war memorials beginning at the American Legion on Franklin Avenue.
The group tours the more than one-dozen memorials across town with an entourage that ends at the American Revolution memorial in front of the high school, shortly before the parade line up begins.
In addition to marching in this year's parade, if you are so inclined, or standing along the sidelines cheering, this year, gather family and friends and be on hand at one of the memorials when the Vets gather to remember their fallen brethren.
Check out all the memorials in town.
Nutley Memorial Day - 2006
Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
4.30.2007
May Casualties
May 7, 1958 - Thomas Tuttle
May 14, 1944 - Daniel Antonacci
May 18, 1951 - John Gorman
May 23, 1918 - Albert Trazewski
May 27, 1946 - Werner Holzhauer Jr.
May 14, 1944 - Daniel Antonacci
May 18, 1951 - John Gorman
May 23, 1918 - Albert Trazewski
May 27, 1946 - Werner Holzhauer Jr.
4.14.2007
NEW DAV BUILDING GROUND-BREAKING
Mill Street, west of Franklin Avenue. Ground breaking April 21, 2007New Belleville/Nutley Disabled American Veteran's Building
See story and photos from the groundbreaking ceremony.
4.01.2007
April Casualties
April 1, 1943 - George Stanford
April 2, 1944 - John Canis
April 3, 1944 - Gordon Tasney
April 6, 1943 - C. Hayden Malmstrom
April 7, 1945 - Frank Garruto
April 10, 1963 - Pervis Robison Jr.
April 11, 1945 - Russell Wester
April 14, 1942 - Samuel Cobb
April 17, 1945 - Gilbert Davies
April 17, 1945 - Walter Kotwica
April 19, 1945 - Robert Gray
April 22, 1943 - Thomas Ashton
April 22, 1944 - Charles Coburn
April 24, 1951 - William Nolze
April 25, 1944 - Richard Teeple
April 26, 1943 - Dominick Cassera
April 2, 1944 - John Canis
April 3, 1944 - Gordon Tasney
April 6, 1943 - C. Hayden Malmstrom
April 7, 1945 - Frank Garruto
April 10, 1963 - Pervis Robison Jr.
April 11, 1945 - Russell Wester
April 14, 1942 - Samuel Cobb
April 17, 1945 - Gilbert Davies
April 17, 1945 - Walter Kotwica
April 19, 1945 - Robert Gray
April 22, 1943 - Thomas Ashton
April 22, 1944 - Charles Coburn
April 24, 1951 - William Nolze
April 25, 1944 - Richard Teeple
April 26, 1943 - Dominick Cassera
3.22.2007
Regarding Burt Hafkin
Regarding your web tribute to soldier Burt Hafkin, who died 18 Oct 1951 in Korea, member of the 21st Reg, 24th Infantry Division, which was not on Heartbreak Ridge.
The 24th ID was fighting in Operation Nomad-Polar, east of the Punchbowl/Heartbreak Ridge. They were trying to take Hill 770 and other peaks south of Kumsong the day he was killed. After the Allies broke the enemy in the Iron Triangle earlier in the summer, the Chinese had shifted their main operations eastward to Kumsong, which became one of the Chinese' main supply routes. Operation Nomad, although overlooked by most historians, was a brutal battle lasting from 13 - 22 October 1951. The daily average casualty rate was higher than either Heartbreak or Bloody Ridge.
Because Heartbreak was much in the news -- and overlapped Operation Nomad by two days -- it was a common mistake for newspapers to report casualties of Nomad as being part of Heartbreak Ridge, which was carried out primarily by the 2nd Infantry Division.
Merry Helm
Researcher: Operation Nomad-Polar
The 24th ID was fighting in Operation Nomad-Polar, east of the Punchbowl/Heartbreak Ridge. They were trying to take Hill 770 and other peaks south of Kumsong the day he was killed. After the Allies broke the enemy in the Iron Triangle earlier in the summer, the Chinese had shifted their main operations eastward to Kumsong, which became one of the Chinese' main supply routes. Operation Nomad, although overlooked by most historians, was a brutal battle lasting from 13 - 22 October 1951. The daily average casualty rate was higher than either Heartbreak or Bloody Ridge.
Because Heartbreak was much in the news -- and overlapped Operation Nomad by two days -- it was a common mistake for newspapers to report casualties of Nomad as being part of Heartbreak Ridge, which was carried out primarily by the 2nd Infantry Division.
Merry Helm
Researcher: Operation Nomad-Polar
2.25.2007
MARCH Casualties
March 1, 1945 - Emil Liloia
March 4, 1945 - Arthur Abbott Jr.
March 6, 1945 - Vincent Fields
March 6, 1945 - Howard Harle
March 15, 1951- Van Der Linde
March 17, 1969 - David Dinan
March 19, 1944 - Robert Cary
March 22, 1943 - William Nutzel Jr.
March 22, 1951 - Alexander MacMillan
March 22, 1955 - Lawrence DiVuolo
March 4, 1945 - Arthur Abbott Jr.
March 6, 1945 - Vincent Fields
March 6, 1945 - Howard Harle
March 15, 1951- Van Der Linde
March 17, 1969 - David Dinan
March 19, 1944 - Robert Cary
March 22, 1943 - William Nutzel Jr.
March 22, 1951 - Alexander MacMillan
March 22, 1955 - Lawrence DiVuolo
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